Announcement: New Board nembers

Announcement: New Board nembers

We are pleased to welcome three distinguished individuals to our Board of Directors. Each of our new board members brings a wealth of expertise, insight, and passion for the arts. Their diverse backgrounds and commitment to creative excellence will play a pivotal role in guiding NAS into its next chapter.

Please join us in warmly welcoming: Emilya Colliver, Helen Lochhead AO and Lucy Keeler.

Emilya Colliver

Emilya is the Founder and Director of Art Pharmacy & Sugar Glider Digital, the world’s first B-Corp certified cultural business. With over 20 years in art strategy, placemaking and cultural development, she has delivered multimillion-dollar projects for governments, corporations and cultural institutions, including serving as Deloitte’s Art Curator. Author of The Art Project and Making Art Matter, and creator of the upcoming Conscious Leadership Wisdom Deck (launching soon). Emilya is also a Board member of Create NSW. She is expanding her consultancy into the Middle East, advancing cultural diplomacy and digital innovation, and is the founder of Flourish Women’s Networking.

Helen Lochhead AO

Helen is an emeritus professor of architecture and urbanism, an architect and urbanist with broad experience in government, industry and higher education in influential roles including Dean, Faculty of Built Environment and Pro Vice-Chancellor Precincts at UNSW Sydney, Deputy NSW Government Architect and President of the Australian Institute of Architects. Her career has focused on urban projects ranging from city-wide improvements programs, educational and cultural precincts, to major urban regeneration of waterfronts in Australia and internationally. She now combines academic and advisory roles with professional practice. Helen also serves on the National Capital Authority, the Sydney Harbour Trust, NSW Architects Registration Board, Sydney Opera House Design Advisory Panel and various Planning and Design Panels across Australia.

Lucy Keeler

Lucy is Head of Strategy & Experiences at Luna Park Sydney, a Create NSW Artform Board Member and former Curator of Vivid Sydney’s Light Festival currently working to transform heritage-protected Luna Park Sydney into a world class multi-art and immersive experience hub, where traditional creative practice intersects with digital, experimental and immersive work. Lucy is a graduate of NIDA and the National Art School.

We look forward to the impact they will make in shaping the future of the National Art School.

Warm regards,
The National Art School

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Join us from 6–9pm on Thursday 22 January for the opening of SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art.

Featuring Ben Aitken, Howard Arkley, BAGL, BREAK, Andrew Browne, Daniel Crooks, Adam Cullen, Mikala Dwyer, Dale Frank, Shaun Gladwell, Brendan Huntley, Rhys John Kaye, Luke Kennedy, LAZY, Mim Libro, Fiona Lowry, Eddie Martin, MACH, Tony McGillick, Paul McNeil, TV Moore, Callum Morton, Tresor Murace, Sidney Nolan, POWER, Ben Quilty, Scott Redford, Reko Rennie, RUM, Leslie Rice, Joan Ross, Khaled Sabsabi, Tim Silver, SNAIL, SPICE, Bridget Stehli, Maya Stocks, Latai Taumoepeau & TAVEN

RSVP 🔗 in bio. 

Presented as part of @sydney_festival.

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Sidney Nolan, ‘Untitled’, 1983, spray can enamel on canvas, Nolan Collection, managed by Canberra Museum and Gallery on behalf of the Australian Government
Marking 20 years of the National Art School Gallery, we are thrilled to share this year's program of ambitious group and solo exhibitions that foster critical appreciation and innovative art practice.
 
SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art
17 January – 11 April
Opening: Thurs 22 January, 6pm
Bringing together over thirty of Australia's most dynamic artists united by one charged medium: spray paint, presented as part of @sydney_festival.
 
Queer Contemporary: Liz Bradshaw
13 February – 7 March
Opening: Thurs 12 February, 6pm
Experience a large-scale sculpture and installation by NAS alum Liz Bradshaw as part of @sydneymardigras.
 
Mitch Cairns: Artist's Mouth
1 May – 11 July
Opening: Thurs 30 April, 6pm
Presented with the @instituteofmodernart, the largest and most comprehensive exhibition by Sydney-based artist and NAS alum Mitch Cairns.
 
Margaret Olley: Australian Intimiste
31 July – 25 October
Opening: Thurs 30 July, 6pm
Celebrating the legacy of NAS alum and one of Australia's most beloved painters, Margaret Olley AC.
 
The Postgrad Show 
6–15 November
 
The Grad Show
4–13 December

Full program 🔗 in bio.
 
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Howard Arkley, 'Triple fronted', 1987, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mollie and Jim Gowing Bequest Fund 2014 © The Estate of Howard Arkley, courtesy Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales
We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Prudence MacLeod Prize. 

The Prudence MacLeod Prize, which will continue for a further three years, supports a recent National Art School graduate to undertake a six-month residency at @acme.art, London.

Supported by the Lansdowne Foundation, the Prize provides an emerging artist with an opportunity to step forward into an expanded, international context at a vital time in their career. The artist will live and work in London, one of the world's great art cities, in a supportive artist community. This important opportunity will enable the artist to forge professional international contacts, explore London's art world and rich cultural resources, and produce a new body of work.

The recipient of this Prize will receive:
– Return travel to London. To be arranged for the artist by NAS.
– Studio accommodation and workspace at Acme Studios for 6 months.
– Living stipend of $AUD3,500 per month for 6 months. Total $AUD21,000.

Application deadline: Sunday 1 February 2026, 11.59pm
Residency: Monday 6 July – Friday 18 December 2026

The Prudence MacLeod Prize is open to eligible NAS alumni who have graduated within the past five years and meet the selection criteria.

Learn more 🔗 in bio. 

—
Acme Fire Station, 30 Gillender Street, 1999 © Acme Archive
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